Fair Grove community backs former SRO during appeal hearing, but aldermen don't budge

To those in the Fair Grove School District, Ben McMains is no stranger. A resident of Fair Grove for the past 33 years, he had been the district's school resource officer since August but was decommissioned from the police department in late January. His lack of law enforcement power through the city means he cannot remain as the SRO for the district.

McMains appealed the decision Tuesday night, asking Fair Grove's Board of Aldermen to reinstate him. He was backed by a large group of community members, including his family, Fair Grove students and their parents holding signs and cheering upon his arrival at city hall. Among the crowd were former police department employees who in December resigned from their positions citing aggressive attitudes from select aldermen who tried to control policing. This left Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott to take over the city's department and become acting chief. This was the third occurrence of police chief turnover since mid-2020.

A crowd gathers in front of Fair Grove City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. Community members brought signs and showed up to support Ben McMains as he appealed the loss of his job as the school resource officer.
A crowd gathers in front of Fair Grove City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. Community members brought signs and showed up to support Ben McMains as he appealed the loss of his job as the school resource officer.

"We just want him (McMains) to get his livelihood back," said Jana Simpson, a Fair Grove resident whose son goes to Fair Grove and plays football.

After an hour in closed session, the board upheld the decision, leaving McMains out of the job. Since McMains lost his commission, Arnott said, a Fair Grove police officer has taken on the role.

"They have failed Fair Grove miserably," McMains said of the final decision.

An emotional night at city hall

As dusk settled over Fair Grove, a large group of Fair Grove residents gathered, donning Fair Grove school district clothing and signs supporting McMains. He said the support was emotional and overwhelming, something he felt humbled by.

The board swiftly moved into closed session where McMains could plead his case and the board could discuss his rehiring.

The board remained in closed session for an hour. Meanwhile, community members remained waiting, though hopes were not high. McMains addressed the group after talking to the board, thanking them for their support and choking up while noting that while the board had not yet voted, it would likely not go his way.

After the city attorney announced the board's vote to uphold the initial decision, the room erupted in disgust and anger, shaming those voting against McMains's reinstatement. According to state statute, closed votes must still be made public within 72 hours of the close of the meeting.

"Unacceptable" and "You failed the children" were shouted at the aldermen as they adjourned the meeting.

Filing out of city hall, children clung to their parents with tears in their eyes grieving the SRO they had come to love.

Fair Grove residents hold up signs in support of Ben McMains in front of Fair Grove City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. People gathered to show their support of McMains's appeal to remain as the school resource officer.
Fair Grove residents hold up signs in support of Ben McMains in front of Fair Grove City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. People gathered to show their support of McMains's appeal to remain as the school resource officer.

Why was Ben McMains decommissioned?

Arnott would not comment on the circumstances surrounding McMains' firing, which he said involved personnel matters, but noted there was an investigation.

McMains told the News-Leader the investigation was opened after a confrontation between him and a city employee. In the complaint, he was accused of intimidating the employee but said the situation was not aggressive in any way.

The former SRO said he was questioned by a Greene County deputy one time and then received a letter noting his decommission.

"The board never came to me, the people that represent Fair Grove never came to me and asked me what's going on," McMains said. "It's just a huge jab, it's hurtful."

He said he has not had discipline issues and his latest evaluation came back near perfect. McMains previously worked as a Greene County court bailiff until he was fired for not wanting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, he said.

"I believe I was wrongfully targeted, it was a personal reason and kind of a retaliation from the acting chief," McMains said.

Arnott told the News-Leader he did not know McMains personally and every prior interaction he had with him, of which there were only a couple, was in an official capacity. Instead, Arnott said this was an employment issue that underwent a review process where the board viewed evidence, heard testimony and ultimately made their decision.

"I'm volunteering as police chief, I'm not getting paid," Arnott said. "I'm just doing what I can to help the city as they requested it ... The reason other officers have left is not for the reason that [McMains] is not there."

More: Fair Grove left without police force, chief once again following resignations

The board's draft Jan. 23 meeting minutes include a closed session regarding hiring, firing, promoting and disciplining employees. City Clerk Sara Davis said there was not a motion made during the session, and therefore no subsequent vote. Via email, Davis noted that instead the session included "a unanimous consensus" from all aldermen except for Jeff Danderson who was absent. McMains said he received notice of his decommission the following day on Jan. 24.

Many of those in attendance at the meeting on Tuesday remained hesitant to hold up too much hope awaiting the final vote, knowing the city's track record when it comes to law enforcement.

"I think that they would have to change their minds which they're not likely to do," Simpson said.

Since 2020, when the most notable police tension began, three aldermen — Danderson, Richard Icenhower and Dennis Roe — and the mayor, Steve Short, have remained on the board. Arnott, who's tasked with hiring the next police chief and officers, said there are currently five police officer candidates and four police chief candidates in the screening and background process of hiring.

Beyond a wage

A sign brought by a student in Fair Grove in support of Ben McMains reads "Not all heroes wear a cape" on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.
A sign brought by a student in Fair Grove in support of Ben McMains reads "Not all heroes wear a cape" on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.

Following the decision, bafflement and uncertainty overtook Gabe McMains, Ben's son and a Fair Grove High School student. He said it is always a worry when a parent loses their livelihood, but Gabe had witnessed the impact his father had had on the larger school community.

"He was like everybody's community dad, he looked after everybody," Gabe McMains said.

The Fair Grove football team was particularly close with Ben McMains. Some of the players gathered on Tuesday night said he was like a father figure to them, someone who would greet every person at the door every morning no matter the weather.

Now that he is no longer there, that relationship is gone, they said.

An online petition asking to reinstate Ben as SRO and investigate his removal had accrued 222 signatures as of Wednesday morning. Other law enforcement officers said McMains was one of the best Fair Grove had.

What the future holds

Fighting tears, Ben McMains said he did not know what comes next for him, he never considered a plan B.

"I loved working as an SRO, that was my passion," he said. He said it was special working at the same place his wife works and where his children go to school.

But seeing the community come together ignited hope and motivation in a lot of his supporters. Fair Grove high school student Sawyer Haskins pointed to the situation and the leadership issues the city is facing, and said he hopes more people will take note of the aldermen's actions.

More: Fair Grove left without police force, chief once again following resignations

"It's a sense of duty now," said Oakland Morrison, a student and football player at Fair Grove. "We need to fix what's happening now, it's not gonna fix itself with the people that are in office right now."

Dayna Ault, a former alderman, told the crowd that the work must now begin to find write-in candidates to run against some of the current board members. She wants to reignite the Fair Grove Citizens in Action group, which she said has been successful previously in turning the city around, to get the city's leadership to reflect the needs and desires of the people they represent.

"Sure we're a small town but ... we have voices," Gabe McMains said. "It's not just my family fighting for us, it's a whole bunch of people."

Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Contact her with tips at mmieze@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Fair Grove residents angry over SRO's firing rally to support appeal